Coupling circuits



Patented Apr. 27, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE COUPLING CIRCUITS Waffe Original application March 6, 1951, Serial No.

214,062. Divided and this application November 30, 1951, Serial No. 259,106

4 Claims.

This invention relates to electronic synchronization circuits and more particularly, although not exclusively, to synchronizing signal generators for television transmitters. This is a division of U. S. application Serial Number 214,062, led March 6, 1951, and entitled Signal Generators.

There are some iields of the electronic art such as television in which it is highly desirable to have a synchronizing signal genrator that is as light, as compact, as easily portable, and as little power-consuming as possible, without impairing its operating qualities. One of these fields is that of industrial television, in which as small cable-linked television transmitter and receiver arrangement is used for various applications such as class room demonstrations where the transmitter camera is coupled to a microscope, operating room demonstrations in hospitals, control room telemetering, etc. Another of these fields is that of television `broadcasting from a point remote from a broadcasting station in onthe-spot reporting of sporting events, parades, and other remote pickups.

One form of television synchronizing signal generators to which this invention is applicable usually comprises a master oscillator of the relaxation oscillator type, a chain of frequency dividers, and an automatic frequency control system. This automatic frequency control system usually comprises a frequency comparator circuit which compares the divided frequency output of the master oscillator to the local public utility power line frequency. The comparison circuit may take a variety of forms, but most generally comprises a bridge-rectifier typ-e of cornparator circuit well known in the art and described, for example, in the January 1943 issue of The Proceedings of the I. R. E. in an article entitled Automatic frequency and phase control of synchronization in television receivers by K. R. Wendt and G. L. Fredendall. The output voltage of such a bridge-rectifier type comparator circuit is unidirectional in nature and is generally applied to the control electrode of one of the electron discharge tubes of the master oscillator. Buffer ampliers are generally used to prevent cross coupling between the nia-ster oscillator and the dividers, and between the dividers themselves, in order to prevent extraneous voltages from being coupled into the divider circuits. These extraneous voltages would result in a tendency for the dividers to provide synchroninzation at frequencies other than the desired frequencies. v

An object of this invention is to provide a simplified signal generator.

Another object of this invention is to provide a television synchronizing signal generator that is easily portable and which consumes very little power.

A further object of this invention is to provide a signal generator of improved frequency stability.

According to this invention the unidirectional output of the frequency comparator circuit is applied not only to the master oscillator circuit, but also to at least one of the frequency dividers. Cross coupling between the master oscillator and the divider stages and between the divider stages themselves is attenuated by means of a unidirectional coupling network comprising a series diode, a shunt diode, and an isolating resistor.

Other and incidental objects of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following specication and an inspection of the accompanying drawing, in which there is shown a schematic diagram of a synchronizing signal generator constructed in accordance with this invention.

Referring now to the drawing, there is illustrated in the dotted line area 3 a relaxation oscillator used here as the master oscillator of the synchronizing signal generator. This relaxation oscillator is shown here as a blocking oscillator. According to usual television practice, the master oscillator 3 is designed to generate a series of oscillations occurring at a frequency of 31,500 cycles per second. The general operation of blocking oscillators will not be explained here as it is well known and is set forth in texts such as Section 6 of Termans Radio Engineers Handbook published by McGraw-Hill in 1943. However, some details of their operation will be set forth below to facilitate 'the understanding of some aspects of this invention. A Vblocking oscillator is a device that operates to cut itself off after one or more cycles because of the accumulation of a negative charge on a capacitor 5 in series with the control electrode or grid of the electron discharge tube l. In any oscillator in which the grid swings positive, electrons are attracted towards the grid. These electrons accumulative on the conducting surface of the grid capacitor 5 nearest the control grid. The electrons cannot return to the cathode of tube 'l through the tube, but must choose a path through the grid leak resistors 9 and l l. The electrons will accumulate at the grid capacitor faster than the grid resistors will permit them to return to the cathode, provided that the grid resistors are of large value. Therefore, a negative charge accumulates at the grid which can bias the tube 1 to plate current cut-olf if the grid swing is high enough. Once the tube is cut 01T, it allows no additional electrons to reach the grid capacitor. When cut-oi occurs, however, accumulated electrons at the grid capacitor continue to flow through the grid leak resistors, reducing the negative grid potential. This results in the tube again conducting and the operational cycle just described repeats itself.

The 31,500 C. P. S. output of the master oscillators 3 s applied, in accordance with conventional practice, to the input of a chain of frequency dividers I3, I5, and I1 which derive indicating signals bearing a fixed 525:1 timing relationship to the master oscillator frequency. The frequency dividers I3, I5 and i1 are blocking oscillators whose mode of operation is similar to that of the master oscillator 3. One of these oscillators has been shown provided with a resonant stabilizer comprising inductance i8 and capacitor I9. The frequency divider chain derives indicating signals having a repetition rate of 60 C. P. S. These signals are applied in pushpull connection across one arm of the bridgerectier frequency or phase comparator circuit 28 which comprises diodes 2! and 23, resistors 25, 21, 29, 3|, 33, and 35, and capacitors 3i and 39. This form of comparator circuit is well known in the art and its mode of operation is fully described in the previously referred to article by K. R. Wendt and G. L. Fredendall appearing in the January 1943 issue of The Proceedings of the I. R. E. Local 60 cycles power line frequency standardizing signals are applied through suitable terminals and resistor t5 to the center of lthe bridge comparator circuit by means of transformer 4I. The unilateral potential appearing at the junction 43 of diodes .ZI and 23 varies in accordance with the frequency and phase difference between the 60 cycle power line synchronizing signal and the indicating signal derived by the frequency divider chain. This unilateral control potential is filtered by means of filter 44 comprising elements 45, 41, 48, 5I, and 53, and amplified by a D. C. amplifier 55. This amplified control potential is applied by means of lead 51 to the control electrode of the master oscillator 3, and, according to this invention, is also applied by means of lead 59 to the control electrode of the electron discharge tube of at least one but preferably all of the frequency dividers I3, I5, and I1. This control potential changes the rate at which electrons can now through the grid leak resistors of the oscillators, and therefore also changes the interval between the time the oscillator tube cuts off and starts conducting again. The operating frequency of the master oscillator and the frequency dividers can thus be rigidly controlled. Resistors 6l and 63 and capacitors 85, 61, and 58 are provided to prevent A. C. coupling between the oscillators over leads 51 and 59.

Cross coupling between the blocking oscillators is attenuated by means of unidirectional coupling networks 1I, 13, and 15. The operation of these coupling networks is similar in both cases, and the operation of only one of them will be explained. Coupling network 13 comprises resisters 11, 18, and 8| and diodes 83 and 85. Terminal point 86 and a point of constant potential, shown in the drawing as ground may be considered as the input terminals of the unidirectional coupling network 13, while point 81 and ground may be regarded as its output terminals. Terminal 86 is connected to an electrode of tube 88 of divider I3. Terminal 81 is connected to the control electrode of tube 88 of divider I5. Resistor 11 is connected between terminal 88 and ground Resistor 8| is connected between terminal 81 and ground. Diode 85 and an isolating resistor 19 are connected between terminals 86 and 81 through junction point the diode 85 being placed between point 98 and terminal 86 and with its anode connected to terminal 88; the isolating resistor 19 being placed between point 90 and terminal 81. Diode 83 is connected between point 98 and ground, with its anode connected to ground When tube 88 of divider I3 is conducting, its cathode swings positive. A positive pulse appearing at point 86 will go through diode 85. Diode 83 will not conduct and the pulse will reach the next divider I5. A negative pulse appearing at point 88 would not go through the coupling circuit as diode 85 would not conduct. A positive pulse from divider I5 appearing at point 31 will not go through the coupling network as neither diode 83 nor diode 85 will conduct; that positive pulse will go to ground through resistor 3 I. A negative pulse appearing at point 31 would be attenuated by resistor 19 before reaching junction point 98. From junction 9D it would go through both diodes 83 and 85, but a greater part would go through diode 83 than through diode 85 as diode 83 oifers a low impedance path to ground. Only a very small part of the pulse would go through the coupling network to the divider I3. Back coupling is therefore greatly attenuated. Diodes 83 and 85 may be small crystal rectiers.

The particular frequencies indicated above are for illustrative purposes only and it is not intended to restrict the invention to those values listed. Other frequency values and other dividing values may be employed in the practice of this invention with equal advantage.

Having thus described our invention, what is claimed is:

l. A unidirectional coupling network comprising a iirst diode having an anode and a cathode, a connection including a first resistor between the anode of said iirst diode and a point of xed potential, a second diode having an anode and a cathode, a connection between the cathode of said first diode and the cathode of said second diode, a connection between the anode of said second diode and said point of xed potential for maintaining the anode of said second diode at said xed potential, and a connection including a second resistor betweeen the cathodes ci said first and second diodes and said point oi' nxed potential, the junction of said rst resistor and said anode 0f said first diode comprising a signal input terminal for said network, and a signal output terminal at the end of said second resistor remote from said point of fired potential.

2. A unidirectional coupling network having input terminals and output terminals and wherein one of said input terminals and one of said output terminals are connected to a point of uniform constant potential, comprising a resistor and a iirst diode having an anode and a cathode connected between the other of said input terminals and the other of said output terminals such that the anode of said first diode is connected to the last mentioned input terminal and said resistor connected to the last named output terminal, a second diode having an anode and a cathode and connected between a point intermediate said first diode and said resistor and said point of uniform constant potential such that the anode of said second diode is connected to said point of uniform constant potential, a resistor connected between said input terminals, and a resistor connected between said output terminals, such that said network provides a direct, substantially non-attenuating path from said input terminals to said output terminals for a signal of polarity more positive than said uniform constant potential and a substantially attenuating path for signals applied to said output terminals.

3. A unidirectional coupling network comprising a diode having a first electrode and a second electrode; a connection including a resistor between the second electrode of said rst diode and a point of fixed potential; a second diode having corresponding rst and second electrodes; a connection between the rst electrode of said irst diode and the rst electrode of said second diode; a connection between the second electrode of said second diode and said point of fixed potential for maintaining said electrode at said fixed potential; and a connection including a resistor between said point of fixed potential and the rst electrodes of said rst and second diodes, the junction of said first resistor and said second electrode of said diode comprising a signal input terminal for said network, and a signal output terminal at the end of said last-named resistor remote from said point of xed potential.

4. A unidirectional coupling network having input terminals and output terminals and wherein one of said input terminals and one of said output terminals are connected to a point of uniform constant potential, comprising a resistor and a rst diode having a rst electrode and a second electrode connected between the other of said input terminals and the other of said output terminals such that the first electrode of said first diode is connected to the last mentioned input terminal and said resistor connected to said last named output terminal, a second diode having corresponding rst and second electrodes and connected between a point intermediate said rst diode and said resistor and said point of uniform constant potential such that the first electrode of said second diode is connected to said point of uniform constant potential, a resistor connected between said input terminals and a resistor between said output terminals, such that said network provides a direct, substantially non-attenuating path from said input terminals to said output terminals for a signal of predetermined polarity with respect to said uniform constant potential and a substantially attenuating path for signals applied to said output terminals.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,342,238 Barney Feb. 22, 1944 2,511,468 Harrison June 13, 1950 2,535,303 Lewis Dec. 26, 1950 2,550,715 Norton May 1, 1951 

